ALBUM REVIEW: Kishi Bashi – Kantos

Joyful Noise Recordings

Released: 23.08.24

Vibrant, eclectic and profound, Kishi Bashi’s fifth studio album is a masterclass in cinematic songwriting. Born out of a kaleidoscopic frenzy of ideas and inspirations, Kantos is a genre-bending voyage across the globe and throughout the ages. The party album encompasses everything from Brazilian jazz and ‘70s funk, to epic orchestral rock and nostalgic Japanese city-pop, encapsulating the wild complexities of the human experience.

Like a Russian doll, Kantos has many layers to unpack. While outwardly zealous and shimmery, ruminations surrounding humanity’s troubled fate haunt its core. This release marks a pivotal point in the multi-instrumentalist’s career, as he shifts away from the symphonic folk of his acclaimed LP Omoiyari, and towards a more energetic, disco-pop sound.